Ex-Lake County deputy, three others charged in alleged phony-cop robbery

SAN FRANCISCO -- A federal grand jury charged a former Lake County Sheriff's deputy and three other men for allegedly conspiring to rob a home while posing as law enforcement.

Eric Mendonca, Michael Puckett, Terry Jacksen and Jack Pollack pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to a statement from Melinda Haag, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California.

Each could see life in prison if convicted of possessing a firearm while committing robbery.

Mendonca, 43, of Middletown worked as a Lake County deputy for almost seven years before retiring for medical reasons in September 2003. He is also a former Petaluma Police Department officer, Haag stated.

Authorities allege the four men conspired to rob a Lake County home on Oct. 4.

The indictment and criminal complaint allege Pollack, 54, of Hidden Valley Lake cased a residence before Jacksen, dressed as a Lake County deputy with a holstered revolver and a white cowboy hat, knocked on the door and told the occupants he was going to search the house with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Federal authorities claim Jacksen, 46, of Petaluma handcuffed and zip-tied the occupants before searching the home and stealing 48 marijuana plants.

The complaint alleges Mendonca provided Jacksen with police uniforms.

While searching the property of Jacksen and Mendonca Dec. 19, authorities say they found a holstered revolver, other guns, a set of Lake County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) handcuffs, a white cowboy hat and cellphone with images of Jacksen and Puckett wearing LCSO uniforms hours before the home invasion.

Law enforcement also allegedly found 20 pounds of pot in Pollack's house.

Mendonca, Jacksen and Pollack were arrested Dec. 19. Mendonca was released on $50,000 bond while Jacksen and Pollack remain in custody, Haag stated.

Puckett, 45, of Petaluma made his initial appearance in federal court Thursday morning and has been detained, according to Haag.

Mendonca and Puckett face six counts, including robbery affecting interstate commerce, conspiracy to possess marijuana with the intent to distribute and impersonating an officer.

Jacksen is charged with seven counts and Pollack with nine.

All four are schedule to appear in a San Francisco federal court Jan. 22 before U.S. District Court Judge William Alsup, Haag stated.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Luskey is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Daniel Charlier-Smith. The prosecution is the result of a joint investigation by the LCSO and the FBI's Santa Rosa Resident Agency.

An FBI spokesman previously reported a different spelling of Jacksen's last name and said Jacksen lived in Middletown.